¶ The sin of Judah [is] written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: [it is] graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
The sin {H2403} of Judah {H3063} is written {H3789} with a pen {H5842} of iron {H1270}, and with the point {H6856} of a diamond {H8068}: it is graven {H2790} upon the table {H3871} of their heart {H3820}, and upon the horns {H7161} of your altars {H4196};
"Y'hudah's sin is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of your altars.
“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, andwith the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
-
Proverbs 3:3
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: -
2 Corinthians 3:3
[Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. -
Proverbs 7:3
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. -
Leviticus 4:25
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. -
Hosea 12:11
[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields. -
Job 19:23
¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! -
Job 19:24
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Jeremiah 17:1 (KJV) powerfully illustrates the profound and permanent nature of Judah's sin, particularly their idolatry and spiritual rebellion against God. The prophet Jeremiah uses vivid imagery to convey how deeply ingrained their disobedience had become.
Historical and Cultural Context
During Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was steeped in spiritual decay, mirroring the very issues that led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This verse speaks to the deep-seated spiritual condition of the people just before the Babylonian exile. The "pen of iron" and "point of a diamond" refer to tools used for engraving, symbolizing an inscription that is not easily erased but is permanent and indelible. This was not a temporary lapse but a fundamental part of their identity and religious practice.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "graven," ḥāqaq (חָקַק), implies a deep, permanent inscription, like a decree or a law etched into a tablet. This choice of word emphasizes the unyielding nature of Judah's spiritual state. The imagery of the "pen of iron" and "point of a diamond" further underscores this, as these were materials capable of making the most enduring marks on hard surfaces, making the sin not merely remembered but perpetually present and active.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 17:1 serves as a stark warning about the dangers of allowing sin to become deeply rooted in our lives. It highlights that habitual sin can become so ingrained in our "heart" and even our "altars" (our places of worship or spiritual activity) that it becomes difficult to remove. This verse underscores the human inability to erase deep-seated sin through mere willpower or religious ritual. It points to the necessity of divine intervention and a radical heart transformation that only God can provide, inviting believers to seek a true cleansing and a renewed spirit, as promised through God's transforming power.